US20090183880A1 - Blowout preventer having modified hydraulic operator - Google Patents
Blowout preventer having modified hydraulic operator Download PDFInfo
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- US20090183880A1 US20090183880A1 US12/018,657 US1865708A US2009183880A1 US 20090183880 A1 US20090183880 A1 US 20090183880A1 US 1865708 A US1865708 A US 1865708A US 2009183880 A1 US2009183880 A1 US 2009183880A1
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- fluid passageway
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- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 101
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 claims description 24
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 claims description 24
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000003660 reticulum Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
- E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
- E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
- E21B33/06—Blow-out preventers, i.e. apparatus closing around a drill pipe, e.g. annular blow-out preventers
- E21B33/061—Ram-type blow-out preventers, e.g. with pivoting rams
- E21B33/062—Ram-type blow-out preventers, e.g. with pivoting rams with sliding rams
Definitions
- the present invention relates to blowout preventers used in the oil and gas industry. More specifically, the present invention relates to hydraulically operated blowout preventers.
- BOPs Blowout preventers
- ram-type BOP typically comprises two horizontally opposed “ram” assemblies having ram blocks that sealingly engage with each other at the center of the wellbore, or around a tubular element in the wellbore, to prevent fluid flow therethrough.
- ram-type BOPs require means for accessing the ram blocks without having to remove the entire BOP from the wellhead.
- Ram access doors or “bonnets”, connected to the ram assemblies are provided. These doors, which are capable of opening to allow servicing or replacement of the ram blocks, are commonly provided on each side of the BOP. Due to the size and weight of the doors, hydraulic operators are commonly used to control opening and closing of the doors, thereby easing access to the ram blocks.
- hinged-door BOPs are configured so that hydraulic fluid passageways extend through a bore drilled through the hinge pin, or through a hinge bracket.
- perfect alignment between the pin or bracket and the door must occur or leakage may result.
- the requirement for extremely precise and accurate positioning of various parts makes the hinged-door BOP prone to early failure and difficult to repair and/or maintain.
- the Type “U” Blowout Preventer manufactured by Cameron Iron Works, Inc. provides doors which are hydraulically manoeuvred along shafts towards and away from the BOP.
- the Cameron BOP system has two separate and distinct hydraulic operators per door; one for opening the doors and one for closing the doors. The need for two hydraulic cylinders per door adds considerable weight, size and complexity to the overall configuration of the BOP.
- Ram-type BOPs comprising a single, dual-acting (i.e. capable of opening and closing) hydraulic operator for each door are also known.
- the assembly disclosed in the '828 application is known to be somewhat difficult to assemble and prone to damage, thereby resulting in costs due to the requirement for providing exacting tolerances on some components.
- the adapter “A” which forms part of the hydraulic operator.
- the adapter A as configured in the '828 patent, involves certain features which are problematic, more particularly:
- a blowout preventer having modified hydraulic operators, is described.
- the ram-type BOP disclosed herein is known and comprises a single, dual-acting, telescoping hydraulic operator for controlling the opening and closing of each door assembly.
- the operator has been modified to provide a reconfigured adapter for increased reliability and ease of manufacturing.
- the reconfigured adapter generally comprises a body having a longitudinal bore and forming a plurality of hydraulic fluid passageways therethrough.
- the adapter is slidably received within the door assembly of the BOP and abutted in position by the operator, which is threadably secured to the door assembly.
- a threaded engagement between the operator and the door assembly may result in a more stable and secure anchor point from which the operator may telescope.
- the threaded connection may result in the reduction of pressure boundaries and may provide means for obtaining a self-contained hydraulic pressure system.
- FIG. 1 (prior art) is a longitudinal cross section of a door assembly forming part of a ram-type BOP having an adapter threadably engaged to the piston sleeve of a hydraulic operator.
- FIG. 2 (prior art) is an amplified cross sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 1 threadably engaged with the operator's piston sleeve.
- FIG. 3 (prior art) is an elevational side view of the adapter of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 (prior art) is a perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 5 (prior art) is a top plan view of the adapter of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 6 is a side view of a BOP, as described herein, having a body and two door assemblies, showing a cross-section of the BOP body to expose the horizontal and vertical passageways therewithin.
- FIG. 7 is an end view of the BOP shown in FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of one door assembly and operator of the BOP, shown in FIG. 6 , with the door assembly closed and locked against the BOP body and the ram assembly in the “open” position.
- FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional of the door assembly and operator shown in FIG. 8 with movement, as shown by directional arrows, of the ram assembly towards a closed position.
- FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the door assembly and operator with the door assembly unlocked and the operator telescoping away from the BOP body (see directional arrows).
- FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the door assembly and operator, as shown in FIG. 10 , as they continue to telescope away from the BOP body, having arrows within the operator and the door assembly depicting hydraulic fluid flow therethrough.
- FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the door assembly and operator, shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 , with the door assembly and the operator fully telescoped to the open position, and the ram block being removed.
- FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the door assembly and operator showing the door assembly and the operator retracting towards the closed position against the BOP body (see directional arrows).
- FIG. 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the door assembly and operator as they telescopically retract towards the body of the BOP having arrows depicting hydraulic fluid flow therethrough.
- FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the adapter as described herein.
- FIG. 16 is a sectional side view of the adapter shown in FIG. 15 .
- BOP blowout preventer
- the body of the BOP 10 forms two longitudinal and intersecting passageways (as seen in FIG. 6 ).
- a first vertical passageway 12 is aligned with the wellbore and forms a conduit for piping and fluid flow from the wellbore.
- a second, horizontal passageway intersects vertical passageway 12 , to form two bilaterally opposed ram receiving passages 14 , each having an opening 13 at the terminal or distal end.
- a pair of closures, or door assemblies 20 are positioned adjacent to the distal ends of the ram receiving passage 14 .
- Each door assembly 20 is slidably mounted upon a pair of slide studs 18 , protruding from and integral to the BOP body 10 .
- stud nuts 17 may be threaded along the slide studs 18 to lock the door assemblies 20 in place (see FIGS. 7 and 8 ).
- the stud nuts 17 may be disengaged (see FIGS. 10 and 11 ).
- proximal(ly) refers to elements positioned closer, or towards, the BOP body 10
- distal(ly) shall refer to elements farther away from the BOP body 10 .
- each door assembly 20 comprises an interior longitudinally extending bore, referred to as the ram passageway 23 , and a hydraulic fluid cylinder 33 , which is aligned with and distal to the ram passageway 23 .
- the following elements are associated with the ram passageway 23 and hydraulic cylinder 33 of the door assembly 20 and form one reciprocating unit:
- each opposed ram assembly 40 extends inwardly through opening 13 into ram receiving passageway 14 until the two assemblies meet within vertical passageway 12 , thereby closing the wellbore and blocking fluid flow therethrough.
- one single (or double-acting), telescoping hydraulic operator 50 may actuate each of:
- a telescoping hydraulic operator 50 comprising a system of interconnected cylindrical tubes.
- the hydraulic operator 50 comprises:
- the first dual-cylinder assembly 60 is telescopically connected with:
- Telescopic hydraulic operator 50 further comprises two fluid receiving chambers formed within piston cylinder 82 . More particularly, a first operator fluid chamber 65 is distally adjacent to operator piston 66 , and a second operator fluid chamber 67 is proximally adjacent to operator piston 66 . Second chamber 67 forms a fourth fluid passageway 400 that is continuous with the second fluid passageway 200 .
- FIGS. 11 and 14 directional arrows depict the hydraulic fluid flow as the door assembly is opened ( FIG. 11 ) and closed ( FIG. 14 ). Fluid flow is described in more detail below.
- An adapter 70 is used to provide a hydraulic fluid interface between fluid flowing through operator 50 and door assembly 20 . It further serves as a flow resistor within the operator 50 .
- the adapter 70 is slidably recessed within door assembly 20 .
- the first proximal end of the piston cylinder 82 which is sealingly or threadably engaged with door assembly 20 , abuts adapter 70 , thereby retaining adapter 70 in place.
- Fluid passageways 72 formed in adapter 70 provide fluid communication conduits between fluid chamber 67 and fourth fluid passageway 400 in the operator 50 and fluid ram chamber 27 in door assembly 20 .
- a seal 74 for retaining hydraulic fluid within the adapter 70 is positioned between the adapter 70 and the door assembly 20 .
- the seal 70 preferably comprises a seal designed for reciprocal movement. For example a PolyPakTM seal (Parker Seals, Utah, U.S.A.) may be used to prevent fluid leakage from within the operator 50 to the exterior of door assembly 20 .
- the adapter 70 is configured shorter in length than the known adapter A shown in prior art FIG. 1 as the need for a threading interface T is eliminated.
- the adapter 70 is configured without cap-screw receiving ports, as the need to secure it in place with cap screws and their associated low-reliability O-ring seals is eliminated.
- fluid may be introduced through inlet port P 1 to bias the ram assembly 40 into a “closed” position (arrows 55 ).
- Hydraulic fluid introduced through inlet port P 1 flows along the interior passageway 100 of the body anchor 62 and the operator piston 66 into distal operator fluid chamber 65 (see fluid arrows in FIG. 11 ).
- fluid will flow along the fluid passageway 300 formed between piston cylinder 82 and cylinder housing 84 into distal ram chamber 25 (see fluid arrows in FIG. 11 ).
- ram assembly 40 is biased inwardly towards BOP body 10 .
- the opposed ram assemblies 40 travel along ram passageway 23 into ram receiving passageways 14 and sealingly engage each other within the wellbore, thereby “closing” the BOP and preventing blowouts.
- the flow of hydraulic fluid may be reversed by introducing the fluid into inlet port P 2 .
- Fluid will flow along the passageway 200 formed between body anchor cylinder 62 and piston sleeve 64 into proximal operator fluid chamber 67 and fourth fluid passageway 400 (see FIG. 14 ).
- Fluid leaves the fluid chamber 67 of the operator 50 through adapter 70 and enters proximal fluid ram chamber 27 .
- This causes outward longitudinal movement of piston 26 and the entire ram assembly 40 (arrow 57 ).
- ram blocks 30 are disengaged and drawn back through ram receiving passageways 14 into door assemblies 20 , thereby “opening” the BOP.
- the door assemblies 20 When stud nuts 17 are disengaged from BOP body 10 , the door assemblies 20 may be opened and closed, thereby allowing access to the ram blocks 30 (see FIGS. 10-13 ).
- hydraulic fluid may be introduced into fluid inlet port P 1 and into distal ram chamber 25 (see FIG. 11 ).
- ram assembly 40 is biased inwardly towards BOP body 10 .
- fluid pressure in chamber 65 increases, resulting in operator 50 telescoping away from BOP body 10 along slide studs 18 .
- the entire door assembly 20 progresses outwardly along slide studs 18 (see FIG. 10 ).
- the ram assembly 40 is simultaneously extended inwardly toward BOP body, thereby moving the ram blocks 30 into the gap formed between the door assembly 20 and BOP body 10 .
- hydraulic fluid may be introduced into inlet port P 2 , whereby it flows into proximal operator fluid chamber 67 (see FIG. 14 ).
- proximal operator fluid chamber 67 As pressure in chamber 67 increases, the second dual-cylinder assembly 80 and the entire door assembly 20 travel inwardly toward the BOP body 10 , until the door assembly 20 engages the BOP body 10 . Stud nuts 17 may then be threadably engaged with the BOP body 10 .
- ram assembly 40 may closed as described above.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to blowout preventers used in the oil and gas industry. More specifically, the present invention relates to hydraulically operated blowout preventers.
- Blowout preventers (BOPs) are large valves that encase wellbore piping at ground surface. One form of BOP is a ram-type BOP, which typically comprises two horizontally opposed “ram” assemblies having ram blocks that sealingly engage with each other at the center of the wellbore, or around a tubular element in the wellbore, to prevent fluid flow therethrough.
- Over time, the ram blocks must be replaced due to wear and tear, or to change their size to accommodate varying sizes of pipe. Accordingly, ram-type BOPs require means for accessing the ram blocks without having to remove the entire BOP from the wellhead. Ram access doors or “bonnets”, connected to the ram assemblies are provided. These doors, which are capable of opening to allow servicing or replacement of the ram blocks, are commonly provided on each side of the BOP. Due to the size and weight of the doors, hydraulic operators are commonly used to control opening and closing of the doors, thereby easing access to the ram blocks.
- It is known in the industry to mount the access doors on a hinge pin such that the doors swing between an open and a closed position. Commonly, hinged-door BOPs are configured so that hydraulic fluid passageways extend through a bore drilled through the hinge pin, or through a hinge bracket. However, due to the intricacy of the fluid passageways, perfect alignment between the pin or bracket and the door must occur or leakage may result. The requirement for extremely precise and accurate positioning of various parts makes the hinged-door BOP prone to early failure and difficult to repair and/or maintain.
- In order to address these difficulties with hinged doors, they have been mounted upon shafts or “slide studs” extending outwardly from the body of the BOP. For instance, the Type “U” Blowout Preventer manufactured by Cameron Iron Works, Inc. (Houston, Tex. U.S.A.), provides doors which are hydraulically manoeuvred along shafts towards and away from the BOP. In order to operate door movement, the Cameron BOP system has two separate and distinct hydraulic operators per door; one for opening the doors and one for closing the doors. The need for two hydraulic cylinders per door adds considerable weight, size and complexity to the overall configuration of the BOP.
- Ram-type BOPs comprising a single, dual-acting (i.e. capable of opening and closing) hydraulic operator for each door are also known. For instance, Canadian Patent No. 2,506,828, filed 29 Apr. 2005 (the '828 application) by Dean Foote and Scott Delbridge, describes such a ram-type BOP. The assembly disclosed in the '828 application, however, is known to be somewhat difficult to assemble and prone to damage, thereby resulting in costs due to the requirement for providing exacting tolerances on some components.
- Having reference to prior art
FIGS. 1 to 5 , one such component is the adapter “A” which forms part of the hydraulic operator. The adapter A, as configured in the '828 patent, involves certain features which are problematic, more particularly: -
- the adapter “A” forms hydraulic fluid channels “F” and is threadably engaged with the piston sleeve “PS” component of the hydraulic operator “O”. This engagement requires that the adapter “A” be significant in length to accommodate threading interface “T” (see
FIGS. 2 and 3 ), and may result in damage to O-ring-type seals “S” around the adapter during installation; - second, the adapter “A” must be secured in place within the hydraulic operator “O” by a plurality of cap screws “C”. Each cap screw “C”, sealed by its own O-ring, presents a potential “leakage point” of hydraulic fluid from the adapter to the exterior of the BOP; and
- third, a number of O-ring-type seals “OS” around the adapter “A” and the cap screws “C” are unreliable and are subject to wear and tear requiring constant maintenance and upkeep.
Accordingly, the complexity of the prior art adapter arrangement disclosed in the '828 application causes maintenance to be challenging and costly, and results in a significant number of “leakage points” for system failure (due to leakage of hydraulic fluid).
- the adapter “A” forms hydraulic fluid channels “F” and is threadably engaged with the piston sleeve “PS” component of the hydraulic operator “O”. This engagement requires that the adapter “A” be significant in length to accommodate threading interface “T” (see
- There is therefore a need in the industry for a ram-type BOP comprising a single, dual-acting hydraulic operator for each door that is lighter, more compact and not susceptible to system failure as a result of fluid leakage.
- A blowout preventer (BOP), having modified hydraulic operators, is described. The ram-type BOP disclosed herein is known and comprises a single, dual-acting, telescoping hydraulic operator for controlling the opening and closing of each door assembly. The operator has been modified to provide a reconfigured adapter for increased reliability and ease of manufacturing.
- The reconfigured adapter generally comprises a body having a longitudinal bore and forming a plurality of hydraulic fluid passageways therethrough. The adapter is slidably received within the door assembly of the BOP and abutted in position by the operator, which is threadably secured to the door assembly. A threaded engagement between the operator and the door assembly may result in a more stable and secure anchor point from which the operator may telescope. Further, the threaded connection may result in the reduction of pressure boundaries and may provide means for obtaining a self-contained hydraulic pressure system.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide an adapter that is slidably received and retained by the door assembly of the BOP, thereby eliminating the need for a threaded engagement between the adapter and the BOP.
- It is a further object of the present invention to provide a modified adapter that is slidably received and retained by the door assembly of the BOP and abutted into position by the hydraulic operator, thereby eliminating the need for cap screws and their associated o-ring seals and providing a solid anchor point that is internal to the hydraulic pressure system.
-
FIG. 1 (prior art) is a longitudinal cross section of a door assembly forming part of a ram-type BOP having an adapter threadably engaged to the piston sleeve of a hydraulic operator. -
FIG. 2 (prior art) is an amplified cross sectional view of the adapter ofFIG. 1 threadably engaged with the operator's piston sleeve. -
FIG. 3 (prior art) is an elevational side view of the adapter ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 (prior art) is a perspective view of the adapter ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 5 (prior art) is a top plan view of the adapter ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 6 is a side view of a BOP, as described herein, having a body and two door assemblies, showing a cross-section of the BOP body to expose the horizontal and vertical passageways therewithin. -
FIG. 7 is an end view of the BOP shown inFIG. 6 . -
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of one door assembly and operator of the BOP, shown inFIG. 6 , with the door assembly closed and locked against the BOP body and the ram assembly in the “open” position. -
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional of the door assembly and operator shown inFIG. 8 with movement, as shown by directional arrows, of the ram assembly towards a closed position. -
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the door assembly and operator with the door assembly unlocked and the operator telescoping away from the BOP body (see directional arrows). -
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the door assembly and operator, as shown inFIG. 10 , as they continue to telescope away from the BOP body, having arrows within the operator and the door assembly depicting hydraulic fluid flow therethrough. -
FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the door assembly and operator, shown inFIGS. 10 and 11 , with the door assembly and the operator fully telescoped to the open position, and the ram block being removed. -
FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the door assembly and operator showing the door assembly and the operator retracting towards the closed position against the BOP body (see directional arrows). -
FIG. 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the door assembly and operator as they telescopically retract towards the body of the BOP having arrows depicting hydraulic fluid flow therethrough. -
FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the adapter as described herein. -
FIG. 16 is a sectional side view of the adapter shown inFIG. 15 . - By way of background, a ram-type blowout preventer (BOP) having a single, dual-acting hydraulic operator will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 6-16 . - The body of the
BOP 10 forms two longitudinal and intersecting passageways (as seen inFIG. 6 ). A firstvertical passageway 12 is aligned with the wellbore and forms a conduit for piping and fluid flow from the wellbore. A second, horizontal passageway, intersectsvertical passageway 12, to form two bilaterally opposedram receiving passages 14, each having anopening 13 at the terminal or distal end. - A pair of closures, or
door assemblies 20, for “sealing or “closing”opening 13, are positioned adjacent to the distal ends of theram receiving passage 14. Eachdoor assembly 20 is slidably mounted upon a pair ofslide studs 18, protruding from and integral to theBOP body 10. In order to “lock” the door assemblies in sealing engagement with theBOP body 10, and thereby prevent blowouts of the wellbore, movement ofdoor assemblies 20 alongslide studs 18 is prevented. For instance,stud nuts 17 may be threaded along theslide studs 18 to lock thedoor assemblies 20 in place (seeFIGS. 7 and 8 ). In order to “unlock” the doors, thestud nuts 17 may be disengaged (seeFIGS. 10 and 11 ). - For ease of reference, the term “proximal(ly)” herein refers to elements positioned closer, or towards, the
BOP body 10, and the term “distal(ly)” shall refer to elements farther away from theBOP body 10. - Having regard to
FIG. 8 , eachdoor assembly 20 comprises an interior longitudinally extending bore, referred to as theram passageway 23, and ahydraulic fluid cylinder 33, which is aligned with and distal to theram passageway 23. The following elements are associated with theram passageway 23 andhydraulic cylinder 33 of thedoor assembly 20 and form one reciprocating unit: -
- a
hydraulic piston 26, positioned within thehydraulic cylinder 33, wherein thehydraulic piston 26 and thehydraulic cylinder 33 form:- a first fluid ram chamber 25 (see
FIG. 9 ), distally adjacent to thepiston 26; and - a second fluid ram chamber 27 (see
FIG. 4 ), proximally adjacent to thepiston 26;
- a first fluid ram chamber 25 (see
- a
piston shaft 24, reciprocally actuated within thehydraulic cylinder 33 by thehydraulic piston 26; - a
ram shaft 28, connected with thepiston shaft 24 and positioned within theram passageway 23. Reciprocal movement of thepiston 26 biases theram shaft 28 inwardly and thepiston shaft 24 outwardly from theBOP body 10; and - a
ram block 30, releasably secured to theram shaft 28 at its proximal end.
- a
- When
door assemblies 20 are closed againstBOP body 10, theopening 13 formed by theBOP body 10 is aligned with theram passageway 23 and thehydraulic cylinder 33. Movement of the piston 26 (seearrows 55 inFIG. 9 ), withinhydraulic cylinder 33, results in the simultaneous movement ofpiston shaft 24,ram shaft 28 andram block 30. For ease of reference, the assembly comprisingpiston shaft 24,piston 26,ram shaft 28 andram block 30 shall hereinafter be referred to as the ram assembly 40. It should be understood that the ram assembly 40 need not comprise three distinct elements as herein described, but may be configured from one or any number of separate components or parts. When the BOP is engaged, each opposed ram assembly 40 extends inwardly through opening 13 intoram receiving passageway 14 until the two assemblies meet withinvertical passageway 12, thereby closing the wellbore and blocking fluid flow therethrough. - By way of further background, one single (or double-acting), telescoping
hydraulic operator 50 may actuate each of: -
- longitudinal reciprocation of the ram assemblies 40 between an open and closed position; and,
- longitudinal movement of the
door assemblies 20 alongslide studs 18, thereby opening and/or closing the BOP.
- Having regard to
FIGS. 11 and 12 , a telescopinghydraulic operator 50, comprising a system of interconnected cylindrical tubes is provided. Thehydraulic operator 50 comprises: -
- a first dual-cylinder assembly 60 (see
FIG. 12 ) having a proximal first end, associated with theBOP body 10, and a distal second end, and dual-cylinder assembly 60 comprises:- a
body anchor tube 62, forming afirst fluid passageway 100, sealingly connected at its first end to theBOP body 10 and aligned to receive hydraulic fluid from the fluid inlet P1 (seeFIG. 11 ); and - a
piston sleeve 64, slidably inserted over the second end of thebody anchor tube 62, which forms asecond fluid passageway 200 therebetween, having its first end sealably engaged with theBOP body 10 and aligned to receive hydraulic fluid from the fluid inlet P2 (seeFIG. 14 );
- a
- wherein the
piston sleeve 64 is retained in position against theBOP body 10 by anoperator piston 66, which abuts the second end of thepiston sleeve 64 and is threadably engaged with the second end of thebody anchor tube 62. It should be understood that the connection between theoperator piston 66 and the first dual-cylinder assembly may be an equivalent form of sealable connection.
- a first dual-cylinder assembly 60 (see
- The first dual-
cylinder assembly 60 is telescopically connected with: -
- a second dual-
cylinder assembly 80 having a first proximal end, associated with thedoor assembly 20, and a second distal end, comprising:- a
piston cylinder 82, having its first proximal end recessed within and threadably engaged todoor assembly 20, thereby providing positive retention for theoperator 50 or an anchor point from which the operator may telescope; - a
cylinder housing 84, slidably inserted over the second end of thepiston cylinder 82, which forms athird fluid passageway 300 therebetween that is continuous with first thefluid passageway 100, thecylinder housing 84 being engaged, at its first end, with thedoor assembly 20; - a
cylinder retainer 86, for adjoiningpiston cylinder 82 andcylinder housing 84, so that thecylinder retainer 86 abuts the second end of thecylinder housing 84 and retains thecylinder housing 84 in position against thedoor assembly 20, theretainer 86 being threadably engaged withpiston cylinder 82; and
- a
- wherein the first dual-
cylinder assembly 60 is telescopically connected, through an adapter 70 (seeFIGS. 13 and 14 ) slidably recessed withindoor assembly 20, to the second dual-cylinder assembly 80.
- a second dual-
- Telescopic
hydraulic operator 50 further comprises two fluid receiving chambers formed withinpiston cylinder 82. More particularly, a firstoperator fluid chamber 65 is distally adjacent tooperator piston 66, and a secondoperator fluid chamber 67 is proximally adjacent tooperator piston 66.Second chamber 67 forms afourth fluid passageway 400 that is continuous with thesecond fluid passageway 200. - Having regard to
FIGS. 11 and 14 , directional arrows depict the hydraulic fluid flow as the door assembly is opened (FIG. 11 ) and closed (FIG. 14 ). Fluid flow is described in more detail below. - An
adapter 70 is used to provide a hydraulic fluid interface between fluid flowing throughoperator 50 anddoor assembly 20. It further serves as a flow resistor within theoperator 50. - The
adapter 70 is slidably recessed withindoor assembly 20. The first proximal end of thepiston cylinder 82, which is sealingly or threadably engaged withdoor assembly 20, abutsadapter 70, thereby retainingadapter 70 in place.Fluid passageways 72 formed inadapter 70 provide fluid communication conduits betweenfluid chamber 67 and fourthfluid passageway 400 in theoperator 50 andfluid ram chamber 27 indoor assembly 20. Aseal 74 for retaining hydraulic fluid within theadapter 70 is positioned between theadapter 70 and thedoor assembly 20. Theseal 70 preferably comprises a seal designed for reciprocal movement. For example a PolyPak™ seal (Parker Seals, Utah, U.S.A.) may be used to prevent fluid leakage from within theoperator 50 to the exterior ofdoor assembly 20. - The
adapter 70 is configured shorter in length than the known adapter A shown in prior artFIG. 1 as the need for a threading interface T is eliminated. Theadapter 70 is configured without cap-screw receiving ports, as the need to secure it in place with cap screws and their associated low-reliability O-ring seals is eliminated. - Having regard to
FIGS. 8 and 9 , whenstud nuts 17 are engaged anddoor assemblies 20 are “locked” to the BOP body, fluid may be introduced through inlet port P1 to bias the ram assembly 40 into a “closed” position (arrows 55). Hydraulic fluid introduced through inlet port P1 flows along theinterior passageway 100 of thebody anchor 62 and theoperator piston 66 into distal operator fluid chamber 65 (see fluid arrows inFIG. 11 ). As pressure influid chamber 65 increases, fluid will flow along thefluid passageway 300 formed betweenpiston cylinder 82 andcylinder housing 84 into distal ram chamber 25 (see fluid arrows inFIG. 11 ). As fluid pressure increases inram chamber 25, ram assembly 40 is biased inwardly towardsBOP body 10. The opposed ram assemblies 40 travel alongram passageway 23 intoram receiving passageways 14 and sealingly engage each other within the wellbore, thereby “closing” the BOP and preventing blowouts. - To open the ram blocks 30, the flow of hydraulic fluid may be reversed by introducing the fluid into inlet port P2. Fluid will flow along the
passageway 200 formed betweenbody anchor cylinder 62 andpiston sleeve 64 into proximaloperator fluid chamber 67 and fourth fluid passageway 400 (seeFIG. 14 ). Fluid leaves thefluid chamber 67 of theoperator 50 throughadapter 70 and enters proximalfluid ram chamber 27. This causes outward longitudinal movement ofpiston 26 and the entire ram assembly 40 (arrow 57). As ram assembly 40 moves outwardly, ram blocks 30 are disengaged and drawn back throughram receiving passageways 14 intodoor assemblies 20, thereby “opening” the BOP. - When stud nuts 17 are disengaged from
BOP body 10, thedoor assemblies 20 may be opened and closed, thereby allowing access to the ram blocks 30 (seeFIGS. 10-13 ). - In order to open
door assemblies 20, hydraulic fluid may be introduced into fluid inlet port P1 and into distal ram chamber 25 (seeFIG. 11 ). As fluid pressure increases inchamber 25, ram assembly 40 is biased inwardly towardsBOP body 10. As the ram assembly 40 travels inwardly, fluid pressure inchamber 65 increases, resulting inoperator 50 telescoping away fromBOP body 10 alongslide studs 18. As a result, theentire door assembly 20 progresses outwardly along slide studs 18 (seeFIG. 10 ). As the second dual-cylinder assembly 80 becomes fully extended, the ram assembly 40 is simultaneously extended inwardly toward BOP body, thereby moving the ram blocks 30 into the gap formed between thedoor assembly 20 andBOP body 10. - To close the
door assemblies 20, hydraulic fluid may be introduced into inlet port P2, whereby it flows into proximal operator fluid chamber 67 (seeFIG. 14 ). As pressure inchamber 67 increases, the second dual-cylinder assembly 80 and theentire door assembly 20 travel inwardly toward theBOP body 10, until thedoor assembly 20 engages theBOP body 10.Stud nuts 17 may then be threadably engaged with theBOP body 10. - Once
door assembly 20 is secured in place, ram assembly 40 may closed as described above. - From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
- Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the present invention to its fullest extent. The preceding preferred specific embodiments are, therefore, to be construed as merely illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.
- The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited herein are incorporated by reference herein.
Claims (6)
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US12/018,657 US8132777B2 (en) | 2008-01-23 | 2008-01-23 | Blowout preventer having modified hydraulic operator |
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US12/018,657 US8132777B2 (en) | 2008-01-23 | 2008-01-23 | Blowout preventer having modified hydraulic operator |
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US20090183880A1 true US20090183880A1 (en) | 2009-07-23 |
US8132777B2 US8132777B2 (en) | 2012-03-13 |
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Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110030805A1 (en) * | 2009-08-10 | 2011-02-10 | Dean Foote | Blowout preventer with lock |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2017188822A1 (en) * | 2016-04-27 | 2017-11-02 | Maritime Promeco As | Blow out preventer bonnet assembly |
US10378301B2 (en) * | 2017-05-31 | 2019-08-13 | Worldwide Oilfield Machine, Inc. | BOP compact bonnet-booster (CBB) piston assembly and method |
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CA2506828C (en) * | 2005-04-29 | 2009-07-21 | A.P.I. Valve & B.O.P. Services Ltd. | Blow out preventer with telescopic conductor tube assembly |
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US9004089B2 (en) * | 2009-08-10 | 2015-04-14 | Dean Foote | Blowout preventer with lock |
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US8132777B2 (en) | 2012-03-13 |
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